Let the mudslinging begin: Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has hit back at the David Beckham camp after Fabio Capello’s decision to drop the MLS-bound player for the remainder of the season was met with a great deal of confusion by Becks’ representatives. Not only did Calderon proclaim that Beckham would become “an average movie actor living in Hollywood,” once he moves to Los Angeles, he went on to say the 31-year old only decided to move to MLS was because no other top clubs would have him. Unfortunately for Beckham, L.A. Galaxy president Alexi Lalas confirmed it would not try to buyout the remainder of Beckham’s contract, which expires in June, so the Spice Boy may have to wait it out on the sidelines until then. This means the Beckham camp’s only recourse is to make their hero look like the victim of unnecessary abuse. If you remember the ugly ending that marked Beckham’s last days as a Manchester United player, you know of his ability to play the victim and kill off his media critics with measured niceness. And determination. Indeed, if he has to stay, Becks is likely to give his all in training in the hope that Capello will be forced to call on him in a crisis. Sweden international Henrik Larsson was in the same situation last year, announcing his intention to leave Barcelona last February, yet he continued to play a crucial role in its league and European Champions League double. Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard believes there’s no reason why Beckham should have to rot on the bench for the rest of the season. “I wouldn’t sideline the player on those grounds,” he said. “You have to look at what is in the best interests of the team as a whole.”